So we all are very aware that recycling has tremendous positive effects on the environment, but which materials are best suited for the process? Which materials should you favor when purchasing goods? Below is some information that will help you make a more informed decision on subsequent purchases.

When discussing the benefits of recycling a specific material, we must focus on the potential energy saving and air pollution savings. When it comes to both energy and air pollution savings, aluminum is by far one of the most efficiently recycled materials around, contributing savings of around 95% for both. Glass contributes energy savings of anywhere from about 5 - 30% energy savings and about 20% air pollution savings. Recycling paper products contributes to approximately 40% energy savings and about 70% air pollution reduction. Other recyclable materials that contribute to energy savings include cardboard at around 20 - 25%, steel at about 60%, and plastics at about 70%.

Another necessary component of the recycling discussion is the relative level of difficulty that comes with processing the material. While some materials can be recycled with ease, others pose a much greater difficulty. Here is some additional information on specific recyclable materials:

• Batteries: Unfortunately due to the varied nature of sizes and types, batteries prove to be a very difficult item to recycle. Each similar size and type of battery must be individually sorted and each group requires a different method of processing. In addition to this difficulty, batteries contain potentially harmful and hazardous materials and, therefore, must be treated with care. Fortunately, however, lead-acid batteries, such as those used in automobiles, are relatively easy to recycle with many cities requiring vendors to accept used ones. In the U.S. this has resulted in a 90% recycling rate and for most new batteries to contain 80% recycled material.
• Plastic: There are distinct challenges that are posed when it comes to recycling plastics. Similar to the challenge posed by batteries, there are a multitude of different types of plastics, each with their own unique Resin Identification Code (a number between 1 and 7, with 1 - 6 denoting recyclable resins and 7 denoting all other types of resins, recyclable or not), and so they must be sorted prior to processing. This sorting process is a difficult task that is only complicated by the fact that most lids on plastic containers are made from a different plastic that is non-recyclable.
• Ferrous Metals (Metals containing Iron): These metals are easily sorted and processed, with iron and steel being the world's most recycled materials. Ferrous metals can be easily separated magnetically from the waste stream in contrast to the difficult separation processes of batteries and plastics. In addition, steel can be recycled to make new material of top quality without compromising its final integrity. As a matter of fact, 42% of crude steel produced today is recycled material.
• Non-Ferrous Metals (Metals not containing Iron): Aluminum is one of the most efficient and widely-recycled materials today. A desirable result of recycling aluminum is that no changes are made to the metal during the process and, as a result, it can be recycled indefinitely. Also, as has already been stated above, recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy required to produce new metal. 
• Glass: Similarly to aluminum, glass is another highly recyclable material that can be recycled indefinitely due to the lack of changes made to the product during processing.
• Paper: While paper is most definitely a recyclable material, the process causes paper fibers to subsequently break down, ultimately requiring new fibers to be added or resulting in downcycling the pulp into lower quality products. Although nearly all types of paper products can be recycled, some types are more difficult to process than others. Paper coated with a glossy finish, foil, or plastic, and paper that is waxed, gummed, or pasted pose difficulties in the recycling process and are usually not even recycled because it is too expensive.